Resilient means



06%o 6, 1936. J. SIEBERT RESILIEN'I MEANS Filed Sept. 29, 1954 INVENTOR Jul u/s 5755/5/27 ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 6, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to resilient means and refers more particularly to spring and resilient support constructions for chairs, sofas and other upholstered furniture.

In my co-pending patent application, Serial No. 659,248, filed March 2, 1933, an upholstered furniture construction is described, which comprises leaf springs associated with coil springs which are generally used in upholstered furniture for supporting textile coverings as well as cushions, stuffing and other material associated therewith. Such leaf springs bolster or support the fabric covering between the coil springs in order to prevent the concaving or sinking-in of the covering due to which the upholstered furniture assumes a worn and dilapidated appearance and are customarily arranged in some spaced relationship between the border coil springs and the adjacent edges of the backs and seats of the furniture. These leaf springs which have the shape of a U, are pivotally connected or tied to the coil springs, preferably at their opposite sides, and are rigidly or slidably connected to the skeleton of the furniture.

It has been found that a resilient support construction of this type can be improved to a considerable extent through an increase in the resiliency and adjustability of said springs and by the provision of members filling out the spaces between adjacent leaf springs.

An object of the present invention is the provision of resilient leaf springs for the border portions of the furniture by means of which the fabric or cushion coverings of the furniture will be maintained permanently in position and will not tend to sag or sink in after a long usage.

The above and other obects of the present invention may be realized through the provision of leaf spring constructions having ends attached to the furniture skeleton frame and the coil springs, the resiliency of said leaf spring construction being enhanced through the provision of a resilient slidable support for each leaf spring construction which is preferably connected to the furniture skeleton. Each leaf spring construction is preferably subdivided into two or more separate resilient leaf springs which are slidable with respect to each other, whereby the circumferential length of the construction is made adjustable and the resistivity of the construction against permanent deformation is increased to considerable extent. The leaf spring construction is also provided with transverse members carried by one or more leaf springs and filling out the spaces between adjacent leaf spring constructions, in order to prevent a sagging in of the furniture covering.

The invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing showing preferred embodiments of the inventive idea.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side view of a leaf spring construction with parts of the frame being shown 10 in section.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the device shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a detail of the construction shown in Fig. 1. 15

Figure 4 is a cross section through the leaf spring construction shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3.

Figure 5 shows in side elevation a leaf spring construction comprising leaf springs connected With a helical spring. 20

Figure 6 is a front detailed view of a part of the construction shown in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a front view of a differently constructed leaf spring.

Figure 8 shows in front view a device connecting the leaf springto a furniture frame.

Figures 9, l0 and 11 show in perspective three different ways of connecting transverse members to the leaf spring construction.

The device shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawing comprises a furniture framework having vertical wooden structural elements 20 and horizontal wooden structural elements 2| and 22 which are connected to the elements 20. The furniture framework shown in Figure 2 may form the upper part of a back or rear rest of a chair, sofa or the like.

A textile or burlap covering 23 is stretched to form the rear of the furniture piece and is connected by nails or the like with the frame elements 2| and 20.

A number of coil springs 24, one of which is shown in the drawing, may be sewn or otherwise suitably secured or connected to the back covering 23.

A plurality of leaf spring constructions 25 are employed to support the upholstery or textile covering adjacent the edges of the furniture.

As shown in Figure 1 of the drawing, each leaf spring construction 25 comprises a wire 26 which is tied or bent around oneof the end coils of the coil spring 24 at 21. The wire 26 is firmly connected by welding or the like with one end of a bent leaf spring 28.

The opposite end of the spring 28 is inwardly 2 bent to form a rolled edge 29. The spring 28 is slidable over another bent spring |9 comprising an upper leaf spring 30 and two lower leai springs 3| and 3|a (Fig. 4), the springs 30, 3| and. 3|a being firmly interconnected in such manner that they form a groove the bottom of which is constituted by the inner surface of the leaf spring 30, while the edges of the groove are formed by the springs 3| and 3|a, respectively.

The edge 32 of the spring l9 which is covered by the over-lapping portion of the spring 28 is preferably rolled or bent over.

The spring I9 is connected to the frame element e 22 by means of a hinge 33 comprising a flatplate 34 which is attached by nails 35 to the frame element 22. A pivot 36 connects the plate 35 with a plate 31 which may be weldedor connected by rivets 38 with the adjacent ends of the superposed leaf springs 30, 3| and 3|a.

The leaf spring construction has, consequently, the shape'of'a U, one leg of which is formed by the wire 26 and by the adjacent portionof the bent leaf spring 28. The other shorter leg of the 'U shaped'spring construction 25 is formed by' the hinge 33 as Well as by the adjacent portion of the leaf spring l9. The intermediate interconnecting portion of the U-shaped struc ture is formed by the over-lapping adjacent ends of the two springs 28 and I9, as well as by the adjacent portions of these two springs.

The bent spring I9 is preferably supported by a resilient wire construction 39 which is carried by the frame element 22. The device 39 comprises a coil spring '48 and a Wire 4| passing through the coil 48 and having endswhich are nailed to the frameelement 22. The coiled wire 48 is'connectedwith'a rectangular wire member 44 which carriesa slide 45,movable within the groove formed by the three leaf springs 38, 3| and 3|a (Fig. 4) The end-46 of the coiled spring 49 has a shape of a bent rod bearing against the rectangular wire element 44, whereby the device 39 is caused to exert pressure upon the bent leaf spring l9, while the other end of the spring 49 bears against the frame. v

In order to prevent the bent leaf springs 28 and I9 from separating one from the other, the adjacent ends of the two springs are held together by means of a slide 41 which is provided with a middle portion 49 and two U-shaped end portions 50 surrounding the two edges of the springs 28 and I9 (Fig. 3).

As is described more fully in my co-pending patent application, Serial No. 659,248 filed March 2, 1933, a number of leaf spring constructions are usually arranged around the edges of a furniture structure. It has been found most advisable to fill-in the spaces between adjacent leaf spring constructions through the provision of transverse members carried by the leaf springs.

In the modification shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 .of' the drawing a transverse member 5| is situated underneath the leaf spring I9. The member 5| comprises an upwardly projecting middle portion 52 which is welded or otherwise connected with the inner surfaces of the leaf springs 30, 3| and 31a. Due to this arrangement, a space is provided between the surfaces 53 and 54 of the member 5| and the adjacent edges of the leaf springs 3|, and 3 Ia, respectively, so that the bent edges 55 of the sleeve 41 (Fig. 3) can pass between the transverse member 5| and the adjacent edges of the springs 3| and 3|a, thereby permitting a free relative movement between the spring 28 and the spring l9.

The modification shown in Figures 5 and 6 of the drawing illustrates a framework comprising a vertical structural element 60 and a horizontal structural element 6| connected with the element 60. A covering 62 is stretched over the back of the furniture structure and is attached by nails 63 to the frame element 6|. A coiled spring 64 is sewn or otherwise attached to the covering 62. The U-shaped spring structure 65 comprises a bent leaf spring 66 having an end 61 provided with jaws 68 clamping a portion of the end coil of the coiled spring 64 (Fig. 6).

The opposite end of the bent leaf spring 65 is preferably provided with a pin 69 around which is hooked the end 18 of a coiled spring H. The opposite end of the coil spring H is connected by a pin 12 or the like with a bent leaf spring 13. The spring 13 is provided with a central slot (not shown) through which passes a screw or pin 14, so that the spring 13 is slidable with respect to the member 14 and the frame element 6|.

The U-shaped leaf spring construction 65 is thus formed of a bent leaf spring 66, which constitutes the longer leg of the U-shaped structure, another leaf spring 13 which constitutes the shorter leg of the U-shaped structure, and the coiled spring II which forms the intermediate portion interconnecting the two legs of the U- shaped structure.

The device illustrated in Figure 7 of the drawing comprises a leaf spring 88 having an end 8| provided with a pair of bent projecting portions 82 which have the form of hooks and which surround adjacent'portions of a coil 83 forming a part of a coil spring which is not shown in the drawing and which is similar to the coiled springs 24 and 64 (Figs. 1 and 5). e

In this 'modification, the transverse members are made adjustable. The spring 88 is provided with a number of notches 84 which may be located at any predetermined distance from each other and which serve the purpose of holding the slidable transverse members in certain positions upon the leaf spring 88. A transverse member 85 is carried by a part of superposed plates 86 and 88 which are welded or otherwise firmly connected with each other. The upper plate 86 comprises hook-shaped inwardly bent edges 81 used for holding the transversemember 85 in position. The lower plate 88 which is indicated by broken lines in Figure 7 comprises bent hook-shaped end portions 89, which are situated on both sides of the leaf spring and'of the upper plate 86. The projections 89 engage the notches 84 and maintain the two plates 86 and 88 in position upon the leaf spring 88. g

It will be noted that the two superposed plates 86 and 88 form a slide having projections 81 for supporting the transverse member and projections 89 holding the slide upon the leaf spring 80.

The transverse member 90 which may be provided with bent end portions 9| and may consist of several pieces situated on both sides of the leaf spring, is connected with the spring 88a by means of a bolt 92 passing through a longitudinal slot 93 formed in the middle of the leaf spring. Due tothis arrangement the transverse member 90 may be conveniently adjusted along the leaf spring 880. within the longitudinal slot 93.

The leaf spring 88a may be connected with a frame element 94 of the furniture structure (Fig. 8) bymean's of a clip 95 which is attached at 96 to thewooden frame element 94 and which is provided with inwardly turned edges 91. Dueto this arrangement the edges 91 permit a longitudinal movement of the leaf spring w while they hold said spring in position upon the frame element 94. The clip 95 may be provided with inner teeth I09 meshing with the teeth I08 of the spring 80a.

In certain instances, it may be advisable to provide the end 98 of the leaf spring 80a with a 1ongitudinal slot 99. Then a sliding connection between the frame element 94 and the end 98 of the leaf spring 80w may be established through the provision of a bolt or tack I00 passing through the slot 99 and screwed into the frame element 94. It is possible to combine both the use of the bolt I00 and of the clip 95.

The device for supporting a transverse member which is shown in Figure 9, is substantially similar to that used for supporting the transverse member (Fig. '7). The leaf spring II9 shown in Figure 9, is provided with toothed edges I I I and carries a pair of superposed plates H2 and I I3 which are welded or otherwise suitably joined together. The plate H3 is provided with projections II I overlapping the edges of the leaf spring H0. The projections II4 support the slide consisting of the two plates I I2 and I I3 upon the leaf spring I I 0.

The upper plate II2 comprises inwardly bent projections I I5 forming hooks used for supporting a transverse member H6. The arrangement is substantially similar to that shown in Figure 7 with the exception that the entire edges of the leaf spring IIO are provided with teeth III.

The modification shown in Figure 10 of the drawing comprises a slide consisting of a pair of superposed plates I20 and I2I which are welded or soldered together. The projections I22 and I23 of the upper plate I20 are joined together thereby forming a loop I24 through which a transverse flat member may be inserted. The slide is supported upon a leaf spring I25 provided with toothed edges E26, by means of wires I2! which are connected at I 28 to the lower plate IZI.

The slide illustrated in Figure 11 of the drawing is used for supporting a tubular transverse member I30 upon a leaf spring I 3I. The slide comprises a pair of U-shaped members I32 which are bent over the edges of the leaf spring I3I. Each one of the members I32 comprises a lower edge portion I33 situated underneath the leaf spring I 3| and an upper edge portion I34 situated above the adjacent edge of the leaf spring I3I. The two members I32 are interconnected by a web I35 bent so as to form a tube serving as a carrier for the tubular transverse member I30.

As previously described, due to the high resiliency and adjustability of the leaf spring structure and due to the provision of transverse members which may be of any desired shape and form and which may be connected in any suitable manner to the leaf spring structure, the durability of the upholstered furniture construction is increased to a considerable extent and the concaving or sinking-in of the covering is totally eliminated.

What is claimed is:

1. In an upholstered furniture construction, in combination with a frame skeleton, a covering over the rear of the frame skeleton, and a coil spring connected with said covering; a leaf spring construction comprising a leaf spring connected to said coil spring. another leaf spring connected to the frame skeleton, the two leaf springs having overlapping end portions, resilient means carried by said frame skeleton and comprising a member slida-ble within a groove formed in one of said leaf springs, a transverse member slidably carried by one of said leafv springs, and means for adjustably maintaining said slidable member upon said leaf spring.

2. In an upholstered furniture construction, in combination with a frame skeleton, a covering over the rear of the frame skeleton, and a coil spring connected with said covering, a leaf spring construction comprising a leaf spring connected to said coil spring, another leaf spring consisting of a plurality of. leaf springs interconnected to form a longitudinal groove, the first-mentioned leaf spring and the second-mentioned leaf spring having overlapping end portions, and resilient means carried by said frame skeleton and comprising a member slidable within said groove.

JULIUS SIEBERT. 

